Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro Launched in India, Starting at Rs. 9,999

After the massive success of Redmi Note 4, Xiaomi has launched an upgrade to the highly popular device today. The Chinese smartphone maker has launched not one but two new devices in the Redmi Note series – Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro. Both the smartphones will compete in the mid-budget price range, where Xiaomi already dominates. Note 5 starts at Rs. 9,999 and the Note 5 Pro begins at Rs. 13,999. Let’s take a look at what these devices have to offer.

Redmi Note 5

Design and Display

The Redmi Note 5 has an all-new design with a tapered back edge. It is also comparatively thinner than the Redmi Note 4 and is the thinnest phone in the Note series. The phone comes in four different colours: Black, Gold, Rose Gold and Lake Blue. Xiaomi, for the first time has also included a thin protective case with the phone.

The Redmi Note 5 comes with a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with a bezel-less look. The resolution of the phone is 2160 x 1080 pixels and it has an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is also protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass sheet to make the display more durable.

Camera

The rear camera on the phone has a single 12-megapixel sensor. The sensor is same as that of the primary sensor in the Xiaomi Mi A1. On the front, there’s a 5-megapixel sensor for selfies and video-calling. It is further complemented with a selfie-flash to help you click better low-light selfies.

Apart from the front flash, there is no major difference in the camera department when compared to the previous Note 4.

Performance and Software

On the performance front, the Redmi Note 5 is exactly similar to the Note 4. The phone packs in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset and is coupled with 3GB or 4GB of RAM depending on the variant you choose. In terms of storage, the phone comes with 32GB and 64GB storage variants. You can expand it up to 128GB via a microSD card but since it has an hybrid SIM slot, you will have to choose between an additional SIM or additional storage.

The phone runs on Android 7.1 Nougat which is layered with MIUI 9 on top. You can expect an Android Oreo update on this phone in the upcoming months.

Battery

The Redmi Note 5 comes with a slightly lower 4000mAh battery unit. Since the display is bigger now, you can expect comparatively less battery life than the previous Note 4. However, this is not a disappointment in any way and is still large enough to get you a day of usage on a full charge.

Pricing

The phone starts at Rs. 9,999 for the 3GB + 32GB variant and for the higher 4GB + 64GB model, it is priced at Rs. 11,999.

The Redmi Note 5 comes with improvements across a few verticals by still retaining the efficient processor and the massive battery. Along with this phone, Xiaomi has also made the global debut of the Redmi Note 5 Pro during the same event.

Redmi Note 5 Pro

Design and Display

One can’t talk about the design of the Redmi Note 5 Pro without drawing similarities with the iPhone X. The rear camera setup is wholly identical to the Apple flagship. It comes in the same four colours: Black, Gold, Rose Gold and Lake Blue.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro bears a similar 5.99-inch Full HD+ display. The 18:9 aspect ratio gives the phone a bezel-less look. There’s Corning Gorilla Glass on top of the 2160 x 1080 resolution display.

Camera

Camera is boasted to be the highlight of this phone as it is given the tagline, ‘India’s camera beast’. Xiaomi claims this is the best smartphone camera they have shipped in India.

On the front, there is a 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 sensor. Xiaomi again compared this to the front cameras of biggies like iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2. It is the first smartphone by the brand to come with a portrait selfie mode. You also get an LED selfie-light to click low-light pictures from the front camera.

Performance and Software

The Redmi Note 5 Pro is the first device in the world to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. Xiaomi is known to bring excellent chipsets at an affordable price and this just continues the 3-year long tradition. Along with this, the phone comes with up to 6GB of RAM in the top-most variant. It is also worth noting that it fits in a LPDD4X RAM which is around 20% faster than normal DDR3 RAM.

Talking of the software, it runs on MIUI 9 on top of Android 7.1 Nougat, similar to most other Xiaomi phones at present. You can expect an Android Oreo update on the phone soon. The brand has also included Face Unlock in the phone, after most brands started doing it following Apple.

Battery

Even the Note 5 Pro comes with a 4000mAh battery unit, so you won’t have to compromise on this front either. It will easily get you through a day with a full charge. Xiaomi hasn’t mentioned about any fast charging technology on this phone.

Pricing

For the 4GB + 32GB variant, the Redmi Note 5 Pro comes at a price of Rs. 13,999 and for the higher 6GB + 64GB model, it is priced at Rs. 16,999.

Both the phones will be available exclusively via Flipkart through the usual flash sales Xiaomi is infamous for. The first flash sale for the devices will be held on 22nd February at 12PM. Xiaomi also launched the very first Mi TV at the same event, it’s the world’s thinnest LED TV which comes with a 4K resolution, measures 55-inches and costs just Rs. 39,999. Read more about it here.

Previously co-founded a startup called WordKrowd, an online literature platform, which explains his love for writing and reading. Thinks about startups and technologies all day long, thus got himself to Pricebaba for a stint in writing. Stories, both fictional and real excite him. Other close recipients of love from him include good movies and good food.